(A) Maximum number of parking spaces. The maximum permitted spaces for the following uses shall be as follows:
Use | Number of Spaces |
Use | Number of Spaces |
Churches and auditoriums | 1 parking space for each 10 seats |
Elementary schools | 1 parking space per classroom |
Hotels, motels, inns and bed and breakfasts (not including dormitories or other student residences) | 0.75 parking spaces for each living or sleeping unit |
Kenyon College | Determined on a case-by-case basis |
Professional, medical or dental offices | 3 spaces per professional, doctor and/or dentist |
Residential dwelling units | 3 dedicated, permanent spaces for each single-family, 4 dedicated, permanent spaces for each duplex or 2 spaces for each unit of multi-family dwelling |
Restaurants, bars and taverns over 1,000 square feet | 1 space for each 250 square feet of customer seating area |
Retail stores over 1,000 square feet | 1 parking space for each 500 square feet of floor area |
(B) Off-street parking; conditional use.
(1) Except as set forth within division (A) of this section, off-street automobile parking areas in excess of three dedicated spaces (or as otherwise provided in other sections of this chapter) are permitted only with a conditional use permit.
(2) To determine whether a conditional use permit for a parking area shall be granted, the Commission shall consider:
(a) Whether the overall imperviousness associated with parking lots has been reduced by providing compact car spaces, minimizing stall dimensions, incorporating efficient parking lanes and/or using pervious materials in spill-over parking areas, if any;
(b) The efforts to utilize shared parking with other uses/properties;
(c) Whether stormwater treatment is provided for parking lot runoff using bioretention areas, filter strips and/or other practices that are integrated into required landscaping areas and traffic islands;
(d) Whether pedestrian walk areas and sidewalks are included in the design, providing common walkways between pedestrian areas;
(e) Whether the dominance of the parking area has been reduced by locating the parking lot in the rear of the building; and
(f) Whether lighting plans conform to the requirements of this chapter.
(3) Upon due consideration of evidence showing compliance with these criteria as embodied in the following regulations, the Commission may grant a conditional use permit for parking areas. When off-street parking is permitted, it shall be provided with vehicular access to a street or alley.
(C) Development and maintenance of parking areas. Every parcel of land used as a public or private parking area, including commercial parking lots, shall be developed and maintained in accordance with the following requirements. These requirements shall apply to existing parking areas which are modified as well as new parking areas which are created.
(1) Screening and landscaping. All off-street parking areas in all districts other than for single- family dwellings (or as otherwise provided by this chapter) shall be effectively screened on three sides. The screening shall consist of a bufferyard which shall include landscaping at a height of between three and eight feet at the time of planting, planted on a strip of land not less than ten feet in width, planted with a suitable combination of evergreen hedge, dense planting of evergreen shrubs, mixed with deciduous trees and shrubs such that at least 50% of the view of the parked automobiles is screened from any public way. All trees shall be a minimum of two-inches caliper when planted. Native trees and shrubs shall be used in instances where healthy plant material exists on a site prior to its development. The Commission may adjust the above requirements to allow credit for retention of such plant material, if, after due consideration, it finds that such an adjustment shall preserve the intents and purposes of this chapter.
(2) Surfacing and area. All off-street parking areas shall be graded for proper drainage and surfaced so as to provide a durable surface. For purposes of computing the parking area required, a ratio of between 157 to 176 square feet per parking space, in addition to circulation aisles, shall be used. This ratio permits perpendicular parking stalls between eight and one-half and nine and one-half feet in width by 18.5 feet in depth. The owner/developer of any parking area is completely responsible for assuring and furnishing adequate drainage for the areas constructed or under the owner/developer’s control. In Residential, I-2 and Conservation Districts, gravel surfacing shall be considered a “durable surface” for purposes of this section.
(3) Lighting. Lighting used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be arranged to reflect and direct light away from adjoining parcels and away from street view.
(4) Location. In all districts except Residential, whenever practicable, when a new off-street parking area is planned, it shall be located at the rear of the building. In Residential Districts, new off-street parking areas shall be located to the side or the rear of the principal building.
(5) Joint use. In all districts except Residential, a property owner or occupant may coordinate with others to provide joint use of parking areas on a lot which the owner or occupant does not own or otherwise use. Notice of an intention to share parking spaces shall be filed as set forth in this chapter; such shared use may continue after the filing of notice unless or until the Commission determines that shared parking areas of those uses fails to meet the needs of the community. Upon such a determination the Commission shall hold a hearing on the issue and resolve the failure to the satisfaction of the community’s needs.
(6) Parking modifications. The Commission may place less emphasis on the importance of some or all of the foregoing requirements if it shall find that, in a particular case, the peculiar nature of the intended use, or the exceptional shape or size of the property or other exceptional situation or condition, would justify such action. In such a situation, the Commission shall clearly identify the exceptional elements prior to its decision and shall identify, in its decision, the benefits to the public of a flexible application of these requirements to the situation.
(7) Automobile service stations, parking garages and parking areas. No automobile service or filling station, parking area for 12 or more motor vehicles, trucks or buses, or parking garages or auto repair shop, shall have an entrance or exit for vehicles within 200 feet of any entrance to school playgrounds, public parks, cemeteries or institutions for dependents or children, except where such entrance is in another block or on another street which the lot in question does not abut.
(8) Storage of vehicles. All motor vehicles over 23 feet in length and boats, recreational vehicles, trailers, campers, motorcycles, snowmobiles, semis/tractor-trailers, and other motorized and non-motorized equipment shall be parked or stored in conforming residential parking areas (including garages) on the side or rear of residences and shall be screened from view from public streets and adjacent properties by plantings or other acceptable shields. If a vehicle is stored on the property for an average of less than 25 out of 30 days at any time, then the screening provisions are not required. Any person who fails to provide screening for a vehicle stored for an average of more than 25 out of 30 days on the property may be cited for a violation of this chapter.
(9) Emergency parking. Emergency stopping or parking of a trailer, camper or recreational vehicle shall be permitted on any street, alley or highway for not longer than three days, subject to any other prohibitions, regulations or limitations imposed by traffic and parking regulations or ordinances for such street, alley or highway.
(D) Loading facilities. In any district, in connection with every building or part thereof with a gross floor area of 5,000 square feet or more dedicated to uses which require the distribution or delivery by vehicles of material or merchandise into the building, there shall be provided and maintained one off-street loading space. The loading space shall be limited only to the absolute smallest size necessary for the location of the delivery vehicle during the delivery process in such a manner as to keep traffic (pedestrian and vehicular) from being blocked or disrupted. The loading space may occupy part of any required side or rear yards. When possible, loading areas shall be located as far away from adjoining Residential Districts as possible. The Commission may permit additional loading spaces in circumstances so justifying, such as increased frequency of deliveries or larger areas of building floor space.
(Ord. 1999-03, passed 3- -1999; Ord. 2013-04, passed 2-4-2013)